In commemoration of its 25th anniversary, Lenz, an integrated marketing company located in Decatur, recently announced the addition of Rochelle Miller, bookkeeper, to its office-wide, turn-key voicemail system, which records retrievable incoming phone messages and stores them in a centralized digital repository.
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By Mike Killeen
Lucinda Williams recently told Rolling Stone magazine of an early meeting with a Columbia Records executive. “He said, ‘You have a lot of potential, but you need to work on your songs. None of them have bridges.’ After the meeting, I got out my Bob Dylan and Neil Young albums. I said, ‘These songs don’t have bridges either. So f*#@ that guy.’”
Williams has always recognized the signal from the noise That’s one reason she’s earned unbridled adulation from fans and artists alike for more than 30 years.
Many were introduced to Lucinda Williams via Car Wheels on a Gravel Road, the 1998 album that earned a Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Folk Album and universal praise from music critics the worldwide (Car Wheels landed at number 305 on Rolling Stone’s list of the 500 best albums of all time).
But by then, those in the know already recognized Williams as one her generation’s most vital artists and a leader of the “alt-country” movement she helped create, thanks to her eponymous 1988 breakthrough album and 1992’s Sweet Old World. By the time Essence was released in 2001, Time magazine also had Williams in its sites, calling her “America’s best songwriter” the following year.
Part of Williams’s appeal is how she seamlessly blends the honored traditions of folk, country, and blues while introducing a sensibility that feels entirely her own. Perhaps this can be traced to her upbringing. Her father was Miller Williams, a literature professor and poet who read his poem “Of History and Hope” – containing the line “We know the sound of all the sounds we brought” – at Bill Clinton’s 1997 inauguration. Lucinda Williams followed her dad’s teaching job across the Southeast, including to Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkansas, and Georgia. Later, under her own volition, she settled first in New Orleans, then Austin, then New York City, and finally Los Angeles, where her passion for music became a formal pursuit.
Today, Williams says she is writing and singing better than she ever has, and it’s hard to argue. She is surely more prolific. Once known for her measured perfectionism (it took 11 years for her to release the consecutive albums, Lucinda Williams, Sweet Old World, and Car Wheels on a Gravel Road), Williams’s most recent release, Ghosts of Highway 20, represented her second double album in a span of just 18 months, following 2014’s Down Where the Spirit Meets the Bone. Both belong to Williams’s newly formed record label, Highway 20 Records, perhaps offering a bit of symmetry for an artist who has always been truly independent.
Lucinda Williams headlines the 2017 Amplify Decatur Music Festival on Saturday, April 22. Lucinda and her band will go on around 9:15 p.m. Visit AmplifyDecatur.org for tickets and more information.
Lenz is proud to present the 2017 Amplify Decatur Music Festival—to be held outdoors on the Decatur square on Saturday, April 22. The event is produced in partnership with Eddie’s Attic and will feature three-time Grammy Award winner, Lucinda Williams and her band.
Additional acts include Noah Gundersen, John Moreland, Harold Holloway and Co., Packway Handle Band, and Kristen Englenz. Every dollar raised will be directed to Decatur Cooperative Ministry to support their efforts to prevent and alleviate homelessness in and around Decatur and DeKalb County. Last year’s event raised $30,000 for DCM.
Here’s a look at last year’s festival!
A work by Lenz Creative Director Ben Barnes recently received worldwide recognition, when it was hosted at a museum in Milan, Italy.
The poster, entitled “Sow,” is the first in a series of three posters. Ben created the poster back in the mid 2000s based on the World War II Victory Garden Posters, most notably borrowing their militarist feel with a strong call to action. When asked why he made the poster, Ben said, “I wanted to do some good with the skill set that I had.” Ben wanted to motivate people to help the environment, and the poster does so by encouraging everyone to plant a garden.
When Ben began creating the poster, a professor that inspired Ben pointed him in the direction of a contest. The contest, called Green Patriot Posters, was hosted by two professors at the Rhode Island School of Design through an idea they called the “Canary Project.” The professors, just like Ben, wanted to use design as a way to do good and help the environment. The contest called for posters that had an aspect of environmental activism, and Ben’s poster fit right in. A year after the contest, the Canary Project picked Ben’s poster to be a part of a book produced from other art entered in the competition, alongside artists Shepard Fairey and DJ Spooky. The book received recognition from multiple online sources, including wired.com.
From there, the success of the poster snowballed. A year later, Ben was asked if his poster could be included in a large format calendar which would be released in Germany. Of course, he said yes. Fast forward yet another year, and the poster was included in a nationwide design museum tour alongside several other graphic design works. The exhibition was called “GRAPHIC DESIGN: NOW IN PRODUCTION,” and its travel list would make any voyager jealous. From New York to Texas to Los Angeles, Ben’s poster traveled across the states.
But the poster’s journey wasn’t done. Ben’s work made it all the way to Milan, Italy at the Triennale di Milaon Musuem. The poster joined other photographs, publications, and graphic materials produced by artists, architects, and community gardeners from across the globe. The exhibition, called ‘Urban Orchard’ and a part of the events of the 21st Triennale International Exhibition, presented a series of subjects related to urban agriculture.
Ben says, “It was all overwhelming, shocking, and surprising! I wasn’t expecting anything to come out of it. I was just thinking that this is something I could do and maybe use for my portfolio to show potential employers where my head is at. It’s just nice to feel like I could do more.”
Ben also said that, to him, his design and work isn’t about the recognition or awards. It’s about doing what he loves.
Mark your calendars! The 2017 Atlanta Science Festival will be held March 14 – 25 and will feature over 100 events plus one big party (the Exploration Expo) across locations throughout the city of Atlanta. Lenz is proud to be the marketing agency and a sponsor for the festival, providing marketing, graphic design, and social media services to promote this annual celebration of technology and science.
Lenz recently developed a festival insert in the March 2017 edition of Atlanta magazine, featuring the new astronaut mascot, a schedule of events, event details, and other important festival information.
The Atlanta Science Festival welcomes people of all ages to explore the science and technology in Atlanta and to see how science is connected to all parts of their lives. Scientists and educators from museums, local schools, universities, and companies will uncover mysteries and explain discoveries in a variety of hands-on activities, facility tours, stimulating presentations, and riveting performances to expand the community of science enthusiasts and inspire a new generation of curious thinkers. Over the course of the festival, 100+ activities and events will be held that are suited for young children to adults. To close off the celebration, the Atlanta Science Festival will host the Exploration Expo in Centennial Olympic Park, Atlanta’s biggest interactive science event that is free and open to the public.
To learn more, visit the Atlanta Science Festival’s website or check out the March 2017 edition of the Atlanta magazine!
Lenz is proud to be co-sponsoring a Classical Brunch at City Winery on Sunday, December 4th from noon to 3 PM.
Attendees of the brunch will be treated to a full classical show hosted by radio personality Lois Reitzes. In addition to hosting several WABE 90.1 programs, Lois produces and hosts WABE’s Atlanta Symphony Orchestra broadcasts.
The show will feature the musical talents of Indra Thomas and Okorie Johnson Trio. The American soprano Indra Thomas made her professional debut as soprano soloist in Verdi’s Requiem with the New York Choral Society in Carnegie Hall and has been acclaimed to be the next great Verdi soprano. Okorie Johnson is an Atlanta based cellist and composer who uses high quality amplification, looping technology, and sound processing to create songs that utilize both jazz and classical music.
Tickets are $20 and available here.
Along side Lenz, WABE 90.1 is also a sponsor of City Winery’s Classical Brunch.
“Lenz is excited to be a part of an event that emphasizes the beauty of classical music,” Lenz founder and CEO Richard Lenz said.
City Winery Atlanta hosts monthly specialty brunches.
Lenz is proud to support the eighth annual ProstAware Blue Ties Luncheon, benefitting ProstAware, a nonprofit devoted to raising awareness of prostate cancer.
The 2016 Blue Ties Luncheon will be held Friday, September 9 at the Ritz-Carlton Buckhead, and feature a keynote address from Vince and Barbara Dooley, the first family of Georgia Football, as well as a special appearance from Heisman Trophy winner George Rogers. 11-Alive newscaster Jeff Hullinger will emcee the event.
Tickets are $100 and available at Prostaware.org.
Lenz is a diamond level sponsor of this event, alongside Toyota, Northside Hospital, and Georgia Urology.
“ProstAware has done an incredible job of raising awareness for prostate cancer,” Lenz founder and CEO Richard Lenz said. “We are thrilled to support this year’s Blue Ties event, and all that ProstAware will accomplish in the future.”
Now in its eighth year, the annual Blue Ties event raised over $50,000 in 2015. These generous donations will contribute to ProstAware’s year-round educational programing and screening events.
Vince Dooley is best known for guiding the Georgia Bulldogs to the 1980 national title. He was twice named national coach of the year and seven times earned Southeastern Conference coach of the year honors. George Rogers was awarded the Heisman Trophy in 1980 while attending the University of South Carolina, and was a Super Bowl champion during his career in the National Football League.
Prostaware is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that has sought to raise awareness of prostate cancer through music, technology and sports since its founding in 2008 by acclaimed prostate surgeon Dr. Scott D. Miller.
Hosted by long-time Atlanta radio voice Dan Kamal and filled with top local and national guests, the show airs Saturdays from 8 to 9 a.m.
Leveraging a unique business model that has proved successful in the past, Lenz has broken into the sportstalk radio business with the help of partners PT Solutions and 92.9 The Game to produce “The Sports Insider.”
“The Sports Insider” is hosted by long-time Atlanta radio voice Dan Kamal, the former play-by-play broadcaster for the NHL’s Atlanta Thrashers, who brings three decades of experience and credibility to the air. Each week, listeners hear from guests such as former University of Georgia star D.J. Shockley and Georgia Tech standout Roddy Jones, along with top local and national writers.
PT Solutions, the presenting sponsor of “The Sports Insider,” has a segment each week in which Dr. Dale Yake provides guidance on a sports medicine issue or injury. PT Solutions, which is headquartered in Kennesaw, is a privately owned physical therapy practice with 65 locations across eight states.
In 2011, Lenz, which specializes in healthcare marketing, established a partnership with 50,000-watt News/Talk WSB and to create “Weekly Check-up,” a medical show that airs on Sundays from 3 to 5 p.m. and has 40,000 weekly listeners. The show is hosted by Dr. Bruce Feinberg, the former CEO of Georgia Cancer Specialists, and presented Georgia Urology.
Having established a successful medical show on one of Atlanta’s biggest news stations, Lenz founder, president and CEO Richard Lenz sought to do the same in partnership with PT Solutions. 92.9 The Game, a 100,000-watt station, is the home of the Atlanta Falcons and Hawks and the most listened to sportstalk station in Atlanta.
In August, Inc. magazine named PT Solutions No. 3,148 on its list of the 5,000 fastest growing companies in the United States. The company has posted a three-year growth rate of 109 percent.
“We were looking for a way to create more brand awareness for PT Solutions and its 17 locations in metro Atlanta,” Lenz said. “I believe that the model we created with WSB, which has proved hugely successful, would also serve PT Solutions perfectly. I think that PT Solutions will reap great benefits from this partnership.”
PT Solutions is a privately owned physical therapy practice with 65 locations across eight states. PT Solutions therapists specialize in advanced clinical treatment that uses the latest research to make their patients unstoppable. PT Solutions’ partners include hospitals and multi-clinic practices. To learn more, visit PTSolutions.com, connect with PT Solutions Physical Therapy on Facebook, and follow @PT_Solutions on Twitter and Instagram.
Based in Decatur, Georgia, Lenz partners with our clients so we can grow together. For more than two decades, Lenz’s specialized expertise has helped our clients reach their goals. We offer the full range of digital and traditional marketing expertise, including brand strategy, advertising, PR, website development, inbound marketing and more.
Lenz is proud to be a Diamond-Level Sponsor of the seventh annual Blue Ties event for prostate cancer awareness, to be held Friday, September 11 at the Ritz-Carlton in Buckhead. The event benefits ProstAware, a locally based non-profit dedicated solely to educating men at risk for prostate cancer.
The event will feature a keynote address by NFL and NASCAR legend Joe Gibbs and a live performance by Lee Greenwood of his signature song, “God Bless the USA.” Jerry Carnes of 11-Alive will emcee the event. Registration opens at 11 a.m. and the festivities begin at 11:30. Lunch is served at 11:45.
Left to right: Jerry Carnes; Joe Gibbs; Lee Greenwood
A few tickets are still remaining and can be purchased for $100.
ProstAware and Blue Ties were founded by Dr. Scott Miller of Georgia Urology, who serves as President of the organization. ProstAware uses music, technology, and sports to start a conversation with Atlanta men about their prostate cancer risk.
Lenz president Richard Lenz said, “Dr. Miller and ProstAware embody so much that we should all strive to emulate: passion, generosity, and commitment to community. Lenz is honored to play a role in supporting his vision and the Blue Ties event.”
Lenz has supported Blue Ties and ProstAware for years with marketing, public relations, social media, and web site support. Fellow event sponsors include Toyota, Northside Hospital, The Coca-Cola Company, Intuitive Surgical, and Georgia Urology.
-Mike Killeen
Lenz recently presented the fifth annual Amplify Decatur concert series at iconic Eddie’s Attic from June 26 to 28, helping to raise $25,000 for Decatur Cooperative Ministry, a nonprofit that helps to keep families out of homelessness.
Since the first Amplify event (it was formerly known as Poverty Is Real) in 2011, Amplify has helped to raise nearly $75,000 for DCM and has served as the presenting sponsor each year. Amplify was founded by Lenz partner and vice president of marketing Mike Killeen, who remains an Amplify board member. Spencer Smith serves as Amplify’s executive director.
“Since our firm was founded 23 years ago in Decatur, part of our company’s mission has been to try to support the local community through a wide variety of public service, initiatives and sponsorships,” said Richard J. Lenz, founder, president and CEO of Lenz, who also has served as a founding member of the board of the AJC Decatur Book Festival, a nonprofit. “We are pleased that our efforts might help in some small way to alleviate the problem of homelessness for families in need. With this event, we creatively combine our love of music with positive action in Decatur to perform a public good. What Mike Killeen and Spencer Smith have been building with the organization is very smart, extremely effective, and inspiring.”
This year’s lineup was headlined by influential alternative country pioneer Jay Farrar and comprised six separate shows, including one by Christian artist Brady Toops. Two of the founding members of the label-defying band Cracker, known for its big ‘90’s alternative radio hits, performed two shows. Amplify Decatur also featured a Kids’ Show performed by female duo The Wishing Jar and a Neil Young tribute that included a number of notable local artists.
Jay Farrar
The weekend schedule included:
Cracker
Full event details can be found at AmplifyDecatur.org.
Founded in 1969, Decatur Cooperative Ministry alleviates and prevents homelessness in and around Decatur. Its programs include an emergency shelter for women and children, transitional housing for families, veterans’ assistance, and emergency relief for families on the verge of losing their homes. Its work has helped make DeKalb County a better place for more than 40 years and Amplify is honored to celebrate DCM. More information is available at DecaturCooperativeMinistry.org.
Based in Decatur, Georgia, Lenz partners with its clients so they can grow together. For more than two decades, Lenz’s specialized expertise has helped its clients to reach their goals. Lenz offers the full range of digital and traditional marketing expertise, including brand strategy, advertising, PR, website development, inbound marketing and more. Learn more at LenzMarketing.com.
The Amplify Concert Series leverages the universal love of music to fight poverty and homelessness at the local level. Specifically, the Amplify Concert Series selects local-level charities combating poverty on the frontlines and hosts music concerts to celebrate their work and to raise funds for them. Amplify concerts unite communities by inviting local businesses to sponsor the events and by increasing awareness. Most importantly, every dollar raised at Amplify concerts goes directly to the beneficiary. The Amplify Concerts Series is produced by Poverty Is Real, a Decatur, Georgia-based 501(c)(3) organization, working to educate communities about issues surrounding homelessness and poverty. Learn more at AmplifyDecatur.org.
